Juve Transfer Market: The Bianconeri Play Their Wild Card in Summer Negotiations
The new Juventus squad could have a distinct South American flavor. At the top of the list to bolster the defense is Colombian Jhon Lucumì, a player the Bianconeri management has had its eye on for some time and who has also been strongly recommended by Luciano Spalletti. The coach considers him the ideal partner for Gleison Bremer, with the goal of building a world-class center-back pairing. For this reason, Juventus is stepping up the pressure on Bologna and preparing a new bid for the defender, born in 1998. However, Lucumì’s contract situation could play a decisive role in the negotiations. His contract with Bologna is set to expire in just ten months, and the Colombian has already rejected several renewal offers. As the weeks go by, this situation risks significantly weakening Bologna’s position, as the club faces the possibility of losing the player on a free transfer in the summer of 2027.
Bologna, under the presidency of Joey Saputo, naturally wants to avoid this scenario and aims to profit from the sale of its defender. The Rossoblù have set the price at 25 million euros, a figure Juventus, however, considers too high. Even the 28 million release clause, valid until last July 16, had been deemed excessive by the Bianconeri. After all, no club interested in Lucumì chose to exercise it.
Juventus is starting with an offer of around 17 million euros and is ready to make another push in the coming days to narrow the gap with Bologna. The key to unlocking the deal could be a player swap. The name favored by the Emilia-based club is Juan Cabal, a left-footed defender who could leave Turin during this transfer window. His potential inclusion in the deal would allow Juventus to lower the cash component and, at the same time, enable Bologna to secure a player who is already ready for Serie A. Contacts between the parties are therefore set to intensify.
There is reportedly already a basic agreement between the defender and Juventus for a five-year contract worth approximately 2.5 million euros per season plus bonuses. This preliminary agreement represents an important starting point, but it is not yet enough to close the deal: an agreement with Bologna on the transfer fee still needs to be reached. Juventus, however, wants to speed things up. The risk for the Bianconeri is that the delay could allow a major English club—already interested in the Colombian’s contractual situation—to enter the fray. That’s why next week could be decisive: 17 million plus Cabal is the offer Juventus will use to try to convince Bologna and bring Lucumì closer and closer to Turin.
